Greetings from Warsaw, Poland.

We have been in Eastern Europe for a little over two weeks. It has been a whirlwind since we landed. We caught the tail end of the mass exodus from the Ukraine. Refugees crossing the border now come in waves, as they escape from the conflict areas where they have been entrapped by the troops surrounding these cities.

Most of the refugees fleeing their war-torn country are women, children (background), and the elderly and those with disabilities, including our dear sister, Nadiya, who is 90-years-old and confined to a wheelchair. Nadiya has been through WWII, the war in Donetsk in 2014, and now this.

The two trips we took from Warsaw, Poland to Lviv Ukraine seemed long (300 miles) and arduous. We transferred from trains to buses, crossed the border on foot, and dealt with numerous delays. However, these were relatively short and easy trips compared to the journey many have had to make from across the country in the eastern part of Ukraine where they are escaping from the conflict zones into Poland in the west. We only experienced a small glimpse of the exhausting journey the refugees are enduring.

The trek from the eastern and southern parts of Ukraine, where the conflict zones are located, to Lviv in the west, 50 miles / 80 km from the Polish border, is a long and arduous journey, taking up to 2-3 days in the freezing cold.

Our sister, Elena, once on the train to Warsaw, took a moment to rest after she and her “mama”, Nadiya, 90-years-old, were safety on their way to Warsaw. The plight of Elena and Nadiya, is indicative of many of the refugees escaping conflict zones.

The long, arduous 2-3 day journey in the bitter cold left many of the refugees, like Elena, exhausted physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Many had to make immediate decisions. With limited time, most packed one bag and left their husbands, fathers, and for some, their sons (all men 18-60 must remain behind to fight if called), as well as the comforts of their home life, to travel into the unknown to find safety. The toll of this conflict is evidenced on the many faces we have seen since we arrived. Exhausted, with little hope, the lives of the Ukrainian people have been forever changed!

As we traveled from Poland into the Ukraine, the mass of humanity fleeing the conflict weighed heavily on my heart. This conflict has left 25%, 10 million Ukrainians, displaced. Of the 4 million who have fled Ukraine, 2.5 to 3 million have crossed the border into Poland.

Humanitarian aid organizations arrived on the first day to greet the refugees and provide them with food, beverages, and much-needed supplies, including hygiene products, diapers, strollers, clothes, and even wheelchairs for those with physical disabilities.

As we headed across the border into Ukraine, we carried fresh fruit for those standing for hours in the lines on the other side of the border, as they waited to enter into Poland.

The Polish authorities embraced the Ukrainians, providing them with safe passage to their next destination.

The fact of the matter, however, is that Poland is overwhelmed by the mass influx of refugees. The countries resources, especially in Warsaw have been strained. Out of the goodness of their hearts, many citizens of Poland have welcomed many of the refugees into their homes.

Many countries have also welcomed refugees, providing them with a place to settle either short term or long term. Individuals like this man from Germany, meet the refugees at the train and bus stations and offer to take refugees to their countries to stay at individuals’ homes. In this case, there is room for 12 refugees.

Sadly, however, many have used this humanitarian crisis as a means to exploit the women and children who come alone, as their fathers and husbands are back in Ukraine.

Consequently, we established the MERCY Advocacy Network (MERCY Ambassadors in Lviv, Ukraine – L to R – Igor, Khola, Adam, and Max). We have greeted the refugees at the stations and provide them factual information about their options for residence in countries throughout Europe, what to expect, and how to get there. MERCY has provided over 40 refugees with practical information that have helped them land in Warsaw, Amsterdam, Sweden, and the UK.

I’m very grateful for James Morgan (R) of our Edinburgh Church, who has spearheaded this program on the ground in both Lviv and Warsaw, along with our zealous brother, Max (Center), who moved from Kyiv to safety in Lviv to serve MERCY and the Church.

Lviv has become an important city for many of the refugees. Many of the men who have not been called to fight have moved here from the conflict zones. Many of the women, children, elderly, and those with disabilities have traveled here to rest before their journey across the border into Poland.

One of the MERCY projects in Lviv, Ukraine is The MERCY Refugee Center. MERCY has rented a hostel, which we are calling The MERCY Refugee Center, to comfortably accommodate 15-20 people.

Since large group gatherings are prohibited in meeting areas, this living room, which is a unique feature for apartments in Ukraine, allows for Services and Bible discussion groups, which is especially needed as so many are thirsty for spiritual revival and strengthening.

We are very grateful for our dear brother, Michael Williamson (pictured), who took the trip with Victor and me to Lviv. His teaching and spiritual guidance strengthened the brothers in Lviv. Our brother Bogdan Mekeda arrived in Lviv this week from Kyiv, and will lead our first Church Service in the Lviv International Christian Church. He will also lead MERCY in Lviv.

Many Ukrainians are entrapped in conflict zones in the east and south, as they are surrounding by troops that are preventing them from escaping to safety. Many must take refuge underground in bomb shelters due to the constant bombing. Drivers risk their lives bringing much needed supplies to the Ukrainians unable to flee.

MERCY Ambassadors, Volvo, Igor, and Dima, are part of a MERCY team that packages up the supplies to be shipped to the conflict zones.

They place a letter of hope and encouragement into the boxes from MERCY and add the MERCY sticker to each box.

Our brother and MERCY lead, Igor Tkalenko, took one of my phones calls while in a bomb shelter. He shared that sirens go off 3 to 5 times daily, forewarning the citizens of a possible missile attack. Consequently, hours can be spent underground in crowded bomb shelters.

Igor, along with the MERCY team, are in the process of cleaning out the basement in Igor’s apartment building, with the plan to add lighting, heat, and tables and chairs to sit and rest.

At the border crossing we met a beautiful family that was fleeing the crisis. Like everyone else, they did not know where they were headed and seemed dazed and confused by the long journey out of Ukraine and this senseless crisis. Although fighting age, the father was allowed to leave the country since he had a family of three boys (Simeone 14 – Left; Nikita 8 – Middle; and Misha 10 – Rogjt. Victor translated for us, as he speaks Russian and Ukrainian. We provided our contact information and the information from MERCY’s Advocacy Network.

This is one of the many refugee centers in and around Warsaw where refugees seek shelter. We visited this smaller, well-managed shelter of 500. Others hold thousands. It is a very challenging living situation, as there is limited privacy and mass communal living can create sanitation issues and the spread of diseases.

Denise and I met with Maria (Middle Left), a young, successful Polish business entrepreneur who, along with her sister Magda (not pictured) took the initiative to organize and oversee the refugee center above.

Much of the work organizing the services, including private housing, are initiated and led by business people like Maria, as well as by local companies and organizations. She and her associate, Lucas (Middle Right), are creating their own Foundation and asked MERCY to consider partnering with them. They are looking to address one of the greatest needs: assimilating the refugees into Polish society, relieving the burden on the government and resources of the citizens, the City of Warsaw, and the country of Poland.

MERCY will start by providing them with the database we have created with information about the refugee resources in different countries throughout Europe. In the future, we are discussing developing a database by interviewing the refugees in Warsaw to gather information about their work experience, language abilities, and unique skills that could possibly be used to help them find gainful employment. The intent is to help the refugees get back on their feet, while relieving the strain on the Polish government and private individuals to support them.

Although we have witnessed so much pain, anguish, and sorrow, it has also been amazing to see the outpouring of support from around the world for a nation that is suffering due to this humanitarian crisis of epic proportions. MERCY is putting our best foot forward to do our part, demonstrating Jesus’ heart of compassion with action.

One thing we have learned, as stated on the backpack of the young mom with the three boys we met at the border, no matter the circumstances, however dire, NEVER GIVE UP.

SUPPORT UKRAINE.

Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16